Hey Community, we are hard at work on the new features for the network map and on the top of our list is making the map easier to use (i.e. navigating the map). I wanted to reach out and get everyone's opinion/feedback on some new features.

Please be sure to read through these BOLD items before skipping ahead.

First, these are not set ideas, but rather future directions we are thinking of going with on future releases of the map.

These are very rough mock-ups. For example, the ads are completely missing, half missing, and/or the left navigation is not accurate. The goal is to have focus on the map itself rather than the entire app.

When viewing the map consider this a 10,000 foot level, so if you see missing or in accurate data on the map just ignore it or assume its correct (e.g. labels of selected devices might not match the device details)

Again, I ask that you just focus on the structure of the application and features/functions not the content or lack thereof.

We will be mentioning what we see as positive and negatives, but we want YOUR opinions so if you agree/disagree let us know.

Below we are showing a total of 8-9 screenshots, three separate approaches for solving the same problem and each approach has two or three separate screenshots/states for each approach. For example, we might have the following three states for one approach; opened state, closed state, and maximized state.

Approach #1

In this approach, the intent was to keep things simple by NOT introducing new forms of navigation or device detail information, but rather structuring information in familiar ways. This approach was taken to keep the app consistent and prevent new or existing users from needing to learn yet another new way to navigate or find information.

Also, the bottom device details section would allow the user to compare devices as well as troubleshoot or monitor the selected device.

Positives: Consistency, nothing new to learn, and simple.

Negatives: Once you click a node to see all the device details you need to scroll to the bottom to view the information. You can alleviate this by using the size bar, but then that reduces the area to display the map.

In this approach, the intent was to improve navigation by introducing a list. The thought is the user can quickly skim through the list to see if all the items in inventory are displayed on the map. It would also allow the user to quickly select items on the map by checking a box rather than searching through scrolling/searching through the map.

In the expanded view, users would be able to perform some general troubleshooting and monitoring, but if the user needed more detailed information and troubleshooting features they can scroll to the bottom device details section. This approach would eliminate the need to scroll to the bottom so frequently.

Positives: Some UI consistency. Prevents most of the up/down up/down scrolling. The list also provides easier navigation to items, selection of items, and removing of items. Troubleshooting and monitoring can be done inline (i.e. no need to scroll).

In this approach, the intent was to allow the user to perform all monitoring, troubleshooting, and the displaying of device details in an inline format so the user would not need scroll to bottom of the page. The user can select or remove devices from the map by checking the selection box. Also, as the screenshots illustrate, the user can expand the list as they see fit.

Positives: No scrolling to the bottom. Inline viewing, monitoring, deleting, and selecting devices.

Negatives: Very busy, introduces new features/functions to learn, and the list takes up map realestate. Area to monitor and troubleshoot is tight.

36 Replies

I like approaches 1 and 2. I love the monitors that appear to the right when you click on it from approach 2 but I think the UI consistency from approach 1 is great too. So, in typical Network Admin I'll vote for both!

I'd also love to see the actual server/device icon change color on the map based on if there is an active alert on it (greenlight/redlight)

I like the list of devices on the right, I can see that making network map more useful (though to date I have not used network map that much).

I like 2 because it has all the "normal" inventory information at the bottom of the screen.

I like 3 because the bar on the right looks easier to use (individual graphs instead of a few in the same screen)

With the ability to push the bottom of the screen down and the ability to hide the bar on the right I think it maintains the look and feel of the current network map, but adds the ability to do other functions with it. Though I do not get bothered much by business on my screen because I can limit what I "see".

I also like martin's idea of a status indicator. That sounds like it will make the network map that much more useful (good one stop place to look at how the network is running)

1st Post

As much as I honour your automatisation efforts, I'd love to see an easy way of managing diffrent types of network maps - so customers can import their own (visio) maps - like NagVis does currently for me.

Sorry Jason, but I just have not found the network map to be useful due to the display layout. All of these designs have that same thing in common. lots of unnessesary space where lines are drawn between devices. If the display was a tree view more similar to explorer or regedit's format I might find it useful. Also the ability do directly edit the map would be nice.

Currently, I find the map views too unwieldy to be useful. I used visio in the past, and currently use FreeMind and Dia to good effect. The suggestions I like are importing diagrams or changing the layout. (Danial Leinad and WarezWolf - I agree with you both.) I have noticed I can edit the map more now. This is good, but it is still awkward. I can't give this to my boss as a network layout.

But my vote is for option 3. I can deal with the reduced real estate, since I dont rely on the map views as they exist now. BUT having that information would be useful on the rare occasions I use it.

Having the icons or links change color or flash if there are issues would make it nice to use. I have used solarwinds with a map we imported, and people would stare at it like something from the movie wargames. It also gave us the fast heads up if a site was down and the 'network health checks' failed.

A vote for #3, although I must say right now I find that the network map does not work so well, Of all the computers I have only like three servers show up I get nothing else to appear. i like the idea, it's just not working properly for me as of yet

I agree with Mark4256 the diagram is to confusing at a first glance and there is no way I would be able to hand this to my boss and say this is our network. It looks way to confusing and needs to be cleaned up a lot. I'll stick to making my own network diagram using Visio

Hey guys, great feedback. Sounds like WareZWolf is still on 4.1 so he isn't seeing all the new features; editing and saving maps.

We have had several mentions of Visio in the posts above. I assume in Visio the entire task is manual, meaning you have to draw each part of your network. With the new 4.5 features you can add/remove real or fake devices or rearrange your entire network, as you see fit. With these added features, if Visio is still your choice can you explain why?

In Visio, is it easier to add/remove devices? Is it because you can bend lines? Because you can add notes? Do you not like our icons? Or am I asking the wrong questions and its because of some other reason?

We could really use your honest feedback on this stuff, as we trying to make it as easy to use as possible.

Option 3 would also get my vote. I see more usefulness out of this option from my viewpoint.

I also must say I currently do not use the network map often, but do view from time to time. My biggest problem is that the network map does need to be cleaned up quite a bit to have it represent the true nature of my network, which is the biggest turn off for me at least. It just shows the wrong interconnects between devices and some devices that are not even in my network (I assume they are ISP equipment).

Anyways back to the subject. Option 2 is not bad as well, but what I like about the option 3 is that in the lists it does give you sort of a quick glance at the device and its health. The real estate is not much of an issue as stated before because when looking at a specific device through the list you are not too concerned with the network layout. Then you also have the ability to min./max. the list giving you the ability to view more or less of the map.

I also agree with Martin9700 that it would be great to see the actual devices change color (or maybe even icons) that would indicate a healthy device from a non-healthy one.

I also agree with others that the ability to upload other diagrams would be a huge plus as well.

To answers some of Jason's questions, I don't think its a matter of how the Icon's look, but the ability you have with Visio, that is lacking with this map function. In Visio you can have different views of your network, you can get detailed to the port level if you choose, and you can break-up your layout to represent locations the equipment is located in. These are things that I have been unable to do in the network map. I'm sure that there are many more items that others can describe that would be useful as well. I'm not a Visio expert, but have used it at a few company's I've worked at and it just provides a quick way to document the network even if you do it manually. Just my viewpoint and 2 cents worth. Hope its helpful to some degree.

I like option 3 as well, but I will stick to drawing my network diagrams in Visio for documentation:

1. I can overlay the network onto a floor plan that shows where what machine is located in a facility as well as logically connected to a switch/router.

2. I can choose layouts for just my WAN and label each path as well as the endpoints.

3. I can overlay the floor plan with cable diagrams that link to PCs and servers, labelling cable ports and integrating this with switch ports, etc to complete the documentation.

That said I would love to adjust the SW network map to show my LANS in and ethernet type layout and how they are connected, which devices connect and so forth. I found both apps vital to my job functions.